Minnesota launched SELF Grad Loan, a new state low-interest option for graduate students, as federal policy shifts eliminate Grad PLUS loans and reduce other federal caps beginning July 1. The program is designed to fill a funding gap for high-cost graduate training areas such as dentistry, medicine, pharmacology, and veterinary medicine. Under the new terms, eligible students can borrow up to $300,000 total for specified programs (with residency extensions) and up to $50,000 annually for other graduate programs, capped at $150,000. The structure includes a minimum $2,000 loan and minimum $15 monthly payments while enrolled. In parallel, a separate UK-focused policy update targets student loan interest in England, setting a cap at 6% for Plan 2 loans in the 2026–27 academic year and freezing the repayment threshold at £29,385 from 2027 to 2030. Campaigners argue the combination will push repayment burdens earlier and increase pressure on graduates’ already-large debts. Taken together, both developments show governments recalibrating graduate and undergraduate financing mechanics while higher education leaders prepare for new enrollment, retention, and affordability constraints.